Washing machine



June 26, 1934. KR ss 1,964,520

WASHING MACHINE Filed Ma 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 yaw ATTORNEY JjM I f June26, 1934. F. E. KRAUSS 1,964,520

' WASHING MACHINE Filed May 14. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Avs ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1934 WASHING MACHINE Friedrich Emil Krauss, Schwarzenberg, Germany, assignor to Inventia Patent-Verwertungs-Gesellschatt, Schafl'hausen, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application May it, 1932, Serial No. 611,260 In Germany May 16, 1931 20 Claims.

' movement so as to facilitate reversal of direction of rotation of the drum.

A further object is to provide means to limit the angular velocity of the drum.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will-be particularly pointed out .in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in the various figures of which like reference characters have been used to designate like parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view. of a washing machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention; v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of part of the washing machine-taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3,

but with the parts arranged to rotate the drum in the opposite direction;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line V-V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the spring latch;

Fig. '7 is a detail view of the removable stop;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the drum shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section'on the line XX of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a section on the line XI-XI of Fig. 8.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

In the drawings, reference character 10 designates the casing of a washing machine in which is mounted a drum 11 wherein the washing is effected. At the bottom of the drum 11 adownwardly extending shaft 12 is provided which is journalled in a bearing 13. Said bearing 13 is mounted on the bottom wall 14 of the casing 10. Casing 10 is closed by a lid 15, provided with a handle 16. Casing 10 may be extended downwardly as at 10a to form a support for the machine and may engage-a base member 10?). Drum 11 is preferably formed with solid walls to receive the washing fluid such as water. The fluid may be supplied to or removed from said drum in any desired manner.

A shaft 17, carried by lid 15, enters a bearing 18 which is secured to a disc 19. Said disc forms a closure for drum 11 and is frictionally held in engagement with the sides of said drum. Shaft 17 imparts rigidity to the assembly and reduces the strain on shaft 12 and bearing 13. A chamber 20 is located at the side of casing 10, and contains a pump 21 which is driven by motor 22. Both motor 22 and the pump 21 may be of any known construction. The suction port 40 of the pump is located near the bottom of chamber 20 and below the normal water level therein. A nozzle 23 is arranged on the pressure side of the pump for the purpose to be described.

In the line of discharge of the nozzle 23 a guide member 24 is arranged, which is mounted on a vertical pin 25 and rotates between two stops or abutments 26 and 26. The guide member 24 has two blades 27 and 27, which are oppositely curved and which direct the water jet from the nozzle 23 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction against blades 28 which are mounted on the lower part of the drum 11 and in alignment with the nozzle 23. The blades 28, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7, extend radially and are adapted to cause rotation of drum 11 in either direction depending upon the direction of the water jet.

Pivotally secured to the bottom of the drum 11 are two levers 29 and 29', which extend radially beyond the drum and which cooperate with an abutment 30 carried by the guide member 24. The levers may be pivotally mounted at 31 and at their inner sides connected to springs 44.

Underneath the drum 11 a member 41 is arranged, which is rotatably journalled on the shaft 12 and which is connected to four springs 32, fixed to drum 11. Member 41 is further formed with abutments 33 cooperating with two removable stops 34 which are slidably held in sockets 34a secured to wall 14.

The washing machine operates in the following manner:

In Figs. 2 and 3, the guiding member 24 is shown as engaging the stop 26, and the blade 2'7 is accordingly in alignment with nozzle 23 and directs the water jet from said nozzle in a counter-clockwise direction. The water jet acts on the blades 28 and the drum 11 is given a counter-clockwise direction of rotation as indicated by the arrow 42. When the lever 29 contacts with the abutment 30, the guide member 24 will be rotated until it engages the other stop 26, and consequently the water jet will thereafter be directed by the blade 27' towards the opposite side of the blades 28.

Just before the lever 29' engages the abutment 30, the abutments 33 of the member 41 engage the stops 34 and further movement of the drum 11 is retarded by the springs 32. This retardation brings the drum to rest as the lever 29' changes the position of the member 24. The levers 29 and 29 are yieldingly supported by spring 44 so that the drum, if desired, can rotate somewhat after the member 24 has engaged the stop 26. 4

The new position of the guiding member 24 is shown in Fig. 4. When the rotation in the new direction starts, the energy of the springs 32 is utilized for accelerating the drum, and it rotates until the lever 29, positioned at the other side of the drum, engages the abutment 30 and again reverses'the rotation. The above described movement is repeated and produces an oscillating movement of the drum for effecting a thorough washing and cleansing of the goods therein. To still more increase the cleansing effect, impellers 35 may be arranged in the drum in a well known manner.

The water for the pump is circulated within the machine as it runs back to the chamber 20 after leaving the nozzle 23 where the suction port 40 of the pump is located. The movement of the drum may, if desired, be altered to continuous rotation. For this purpose holders 43, preferably flat spring latches, are provided at the bottom of the drum, which holders are adapted to receive and retain the levers and hold the levers out of contact with the abutment 30. In such case the members 34 must be removed.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 11, two sets of blades 45 are provided, one to cause rotation in one direction and the other to cause rotation in the opposite direction. The guide member 24 is formed with blades 2'1 and 27' which are turned upwardly and downwardly respectively, to direct the water jet alternatively upon the two blade sets. Two bell crank lev'ers 36 are joumalled to the drum at 3'7. Springs 38 connect the lever arms with the drum and normally hold said levers in retracted position. When the drum is stationary, the levers 36 do not extend radially to the abutment 30, but upon rotation of the drum are thrown out by centrifugal force so that, at a certain velocity or rotation, they engage the abutment 30 and reverse the guide member 24. The drum'is thereafter retarded by the water jet and the levers 36. After reversal of direction of rotation the same operation is repeated. Two levers 36 are provided, one for each direction of rotation, as will be clear from Fig. 9.

In order to prevent the drum from exceeding a certain velocity, brake shoes 39 are journalled on the drum as at 46 and are adapted to be thrown out by centrifugal force into sliding friction engagement with a brake ring 47 which is carried on casing 10. It is evident that the brak shoes will be inoperative except when excessive angular velocities are attained by drum 11.

It is to be noted that, in the above described invention, the driving force for the drum is obtained from a stationary nozzle and the jet is deflected by a guide member to contact with vanes on the drum. The position of the guide member is automatically changed when the drum nears the end of its travel so as to cause reverse movement thereof. The arrangement is such that leakage is avoided and the power requirements are reduced to a minimum.

The spring retarding means facilitates reversal of movement by storing up energy derived from the inertia of the drum and eliminates the shock that would be produced by sudden reversal of direction.

The. centrifugal brake shoes compensate for variations in water pressure and in the weight of the drum and ensure a uniform operation of the device under all conditions.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, a nozzle arranged to discharge a fluid jet, oscillatory guide means located in the line of flow of said jet for directing said jet along the periphery of said drum, means carried by said drum and cooperating with said jet to cause rotational movement of said drum, and means for oscillating said guide means whereby to reverse the peripheral direction of flow of said jet to cause oscillatory movement of said drum.

2. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, a

nozzle arranged to discharge a fluid jet, oscillatory guide means located in the line of flow of said jet for directing said jet along the periphery of said drum, means carried by said drum and cooperating with said jet to cause rotational movement of said drum, and means carried by said drum and engaging said guide means when said drum nears the end of its travel for oscillating said guide means whereby to reverse the peripheral direction of flow of said jet and to cause oscillatory movement of said drum.

3. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, a nozzle arranged to discharge a fluid jet, oscillatory guide means located in the line of flow of said jet for directing said jet along the periphery of said drum, radial blades carried by said drum and cooperating with said jet to cause rotational movement of said drum, and means for oscillating said guide means whereby to reverse the peripheral direction of flow of said jet and to cause oscillatory movement of said drum.

4. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, a nozzle arranged to discharge a fluid jet radially toward the center of said drum, oscillatory guide means located in the line of flow of said jet for directing said jet along the periphery of said drum, means carried by said drum and cooperating with said jet to cause rotational movement of said drum, and means for oscillating said guide means whereby to reverse the peripheral direction of flow of said jet and to cause oscillatory moveline of flow of said jet andhaving a pair of curved blades adapted to .altemately direct said jet in opposite peripheral directions, means associated with said drum and cooperating with said jet for causing rotational movement of said 5 drum, and means controlled in accordance with the extent of travel of said drum for varying the position of said guide means whereby to alternately bring said curved blades into operative position.

6. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, a pair of sets of blades carried externally thereof, one of said sets being adapted to impel the drum in one direction and the other of said sets being adapted to impel the drum in the opposite direction, a stationary nozzle adapted to discharge a water jet, and means controlled by the position of said drum for directing said jet upon one or the other of said sets of blades whereby to cause oscillating rotary movement of said drum.

7. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, 9. pair of sets of blades carried externally thereof, one of said sets being adapted to impel the drum in one direction and the other of said sets being adapted to impel the drum in the opposite direction, a stationary nozzle adapted to discharge a water jet, guide means adapted to direct said jet upon one or the other of said sets of blades, and means carried by said drum and engaging said guide means in certain positions of said drum for reversing the direction of said jet and thereby causing oscillating movement of said drum.

8. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, means for causing rotary movement of said drum in one direction, means to alter the first mentioned means to cause movement of the drum in the other direction, and means to retard the movement of the drum before said alteration of the first mentioned means.

9. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, means for causing rotary movement of said drum in one direction, means to alter the first men-, tioned means to cause movement of the drum in the other direction, and resilient means to retard the movement of the drum before said alteration of the first mentioned means.

10. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, driving means for causing oscillatory movement of said drum, a lever pivoted to said drum, resilient means normally holding said lever in a given position, and stationary stops mounted adjacent to said drum and engaging said lever when said drum nears the end of its'travel whereby to retard further movement of said drum and to facilitate reversal thereof.

11. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, driving means for causing rotary movement thereof, reversing means, and a lever carried by said drum and normally held in retracted position, said lever being mounted for movement in 50 response to centrifugal force into a position engaging said reversing means whereby reversal of movement of said drum is effected.

12. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum, a nozzle arranged to discharge a fluid jet, guide 35 means located in the line of flow of said jet for directing said jet along the periphery of said drum, means carried by said drum and cooperating with said jet to cause rotational movement of said drum, and a lever carried by said drum and operable in response to centrifugal force to engage said gude means and to cause reversal of the position thereof.

13. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum,

a nozzle arranged to discharge a fluid jet, guide means located in the line of flow of said jet for directing said jet along the periphery of said drum, means carried by said drum and cooperating with said jet to cause rotational movement of said drum, a bell crank lever pivoted to said drum, and a spring normally holding said lever in retracted position, said lever being extended by centrifugal force whereby to engage sa.d guide means and to reverse the position thereof.

14. In a washing machine, a rotatable drum,

driving means therefor, a casing surrounding' said drum, a brake ring mounted on the inside of said casing, brake shoes, and means for mounting said brake shoes on said drum to have outward movement due to centrifugal force toward said said drum, said casing providing a pump chamber, a pump mounted therein and having a discharge nozzle, a driving motor for said pump, a member including guide blades pivotally mounted in the line of discharge of said nozzle and adapted to direct the jet therefrom upon one or the other side of said radial blades whereby to cause rotation of said drum in alternate directions, an abutment on said member and a lever carried by said drum and adapted to engage said abutment whereby to cause reversal of position of said guide blades.

17. In a washing machine, a casing, a rotatable drum mounted therein, radial blades carried on said drum, said casing providing a pump chamber, a pump mounted therein and having a discharge nozzle, a driving motor for said pump, a member including guide blades pivotally mountedin the line of discharge of said nozzle and adapted to direct the jet therefrom upon one or the other side of said radial blades whereby to cause rotation of said drum in alternate directions an abutment on said member, a lever carried by said drum and adapted to engage said abutment whereby to cause reversal of position of said guide blades, and resilient means operative when said drum nears the end of its travel to retard further movement thereof and to assist in reversal of said movement.

18. In a washing machine, a casing, a rotatable drum mounted therein, radial blades carried on said drum, said casing providing a pump chamber, a pump mounted therein and having a discharge nozzle, a driving motor for said pump, a member including gu'de blades pivotally mounted in the line of discharge of said nozzle and adapted to direct the jet therefrom upon one or the other side of said radial blades whereby to cause rotation of said drum in alternate "directions, an abutment on said member, a lever carried by sa d drum and adapted to engage said abutment whereby to cause reversal of position of said guide blades, and a centrifugal brake carried by said drum for limiting the rate of movement thereof.

19. In a washing machine, a casing, a rotatable said drum, said casing providing a pump'cham-' -tatably mounted on said base, means to oscillate her; a pump'mounted therein and having a'discharge nozzle, 9. driving motor for said'pump, a

. member including guide blades pivotally mounted in the line of discharge of said nozzle and adapted to direct the jet therefrom upon one or the other side of said radial blades whereby tocause ro-' tation '01 said drum in alternate directions, an abutment on said member, a lever carried by said drum and adapted to engage said abutment whereby to cause reversal of position of said guide blades, a brake 'ring carried by said casing, and centrifugal brake means speed of movement of said drum.

. associated with said drum'tor engaging said ring and limiting the 20.'In a washing machine, a base, a drum rosaid drum, a stationary casing surrounding said drum and a brake shoe pivotally mounted on said drum and movable outwardly from the axis of rotation of the drum under the influence of centriiugal force due to rotation of the drum and contactible with said stationary casing to have sliding friction engagement therewith when the speed of rotation of the drum rises to a given value.

FRIEDRICH EMIL KRAUSS. 

